I have been happy with my AT&T plan, until I had a problem with my phone last week. It turns out the store was happy to switch me to ATT and sell me a phone, but they couldn't bother to add the requested insurance or add the upgrade plan we had discussed to my account.
The full account follows:
After a visit to the Apple store at t3290 NE BROADWAY ST STE K, , PORTLAND, OR 97232 on 9/23/22, I switched back to AT&T. The new iPhone 14 and 14 Pro had just been released; however, the phone I actually wanted was the iPhone 15 Pro, with a host of features I've been waiting for. The option to pay for an additional fee for an upgrade plan was enticing, and I was pleased with the cost of unlimited data plan, so I moved forward with ordering a phone and changing service providers.
As they didn't have the phone in the color I wanted, I left the store and the phone was shipped to me for a self activation. When the phone arrived, I activated it, and created a log in for ATT.com in order to set up autopay on my credit card, and haven't logged onto the site since.
Last week my 9 month old phone stopped taking a charge. I tried all of the things, cleaning the lint, trying different chargers, methods, resetting the phone, everything you can find online.
None of it worked, so I visited the ATT store in person, where they not only told me I didn't have the requested iPhone insurance added to my plan, but I also didn't have the upgrade plan added to my account. That's right - they set me up with the account, and moved my service over, but dropped the ball on the two additional requests we had discussed.
My mistake was assuming my account would have been setup as discussed. The sales person dropped the ball. And since I didn't bring this to the attention to someone at AT&T within the timeframe, my account and line are not eligible for it.
In this case who is at fault? Is it the person who sold me services and neglected to do what they promised? Or is it me, for assuming someone would follow through and do what they promised?
I've spoken with a number of customer service representatives at AT&T on the phone, on social media, and in person, and although I've always held insurance on my new iPhones, (as well as heavy duty cases) I've been unknowing flying without a net, which as a very active person is highly concerning.
Note: my phone repair was covered under Apple Warranty.
I have since added Apple Care + so I have some peace of mind for breakage. However, if my phone is stolen, I'm out of luck.
Sales Rep: Ariana R
3290 NE BROADWAY ST STE K, , PORTLAND, OR 97232
I was carefully reviewing all details on your account, and could find this new account was opened around 09/23/2022. On that date, you purchased a new device, Apple iPhone 13 Pro - Graphite - 128 GB, through an installment plan. However, either a Next-Up feature (upgrade plan) and Insurance plan weren't added at that time. So now, I understand that you weren't aware for it, and want to explain why these features can't be added to the account/line. - AntonioR Social Media Specialist
I understand your position. However, I already shared with you the needed requirements and conditions to get a Device Protection plan and also the Next-up feature. However, since the timeframe for an escalation process is expired, the account/line is not eligible for it. - AntonioR Social Media Specialist
We don't want to see you go, and want to offer an apology for this situation. From my end, I'm always here to help, and I'm providing the most accurate information based on what I can see. - AntonioR Social Media Specialist
I completely understand you, I'm a customer myself. From my end, I would like to share all details about it. Here are the reasons why these features can't be added right now.
About Next-Up; if a device was activated with no early upgrade option, Next-Up feature, there's only a timeframe for 14 days to add it to the line. Outside this period, no changes to the installment plan can be made to make the line upgrade eligible. - AntonioR Social Media Specialist
About Device Protection plans; they must be added within 30 days of the date of a qualified activation or upgrade, or during Open Enrollment periods (not available at this moment). Otherwise, if by any chance, they weren't added within those 30 days, through an escalation process, device protection features can only be added within 90 days of the original intended enrollment date with qualified event. However, more than 200 days have passed from the original date, so the account/line isn't eligible to get this feature. - AntonioR Social Media Specialist read more